Outlet



March 24, 1931. c. w. SIRCH 1,797,800

OUTLET Filed May 14, 1927 gwuwntoz abbmeq Patented Mar. '24, 1931 PATENT tries-f @HARIIES SERGE; 'OF'jLOS ANGEJ121115, CALIFORNIA OUTLET Application filed-'lvlay 14,

This invention relates to outlets suchas used forwitlidrawingwater fromtanks. The

invention is particularly applicable where the location or the character ofthe' flow of the 5 liquid into the outlet must be of a definite character, For example, insorne' industrial processes it may be necessary to withdraw liquidquietly atapredetermined level and without jdevel oping viole'ntj currents in the 9 liquid; While-the" invention is applicable to such purposes, it is particularly applicable when used in connection with swimming pools." In these pools sedimentationtis constantly occurring'and is, of course, greatest 5 in the lower levels of the water. My invention provides simple'jmeans for effecting the withdrawal of the water selectively, thatis to say, at a predetermined level, for example, at a point just above thebottom; The gen- 0 eral object ofthis invention is to provide an outlet whichwill meet such requirements "as those outlined atovm also toprovide an outlet having special features of construction which adapt it'for use in a swimming-pool, enabling the outlet to operate in such a way as to withdraw the water at a low level and in such a way that the body of water is left relatively quiescent and undisturbed in spite of the efllujx of ater, thereby. enabling the 0 water drawn off toflow'only, or substantially,

from a certain level of the liquid. In a swimming pool, I prefer to locate the outlet on or very nearthe bottom and I construct it'so that the water on the bottom is I'GITIOVGd 35 through the medium of arelatively gentle fio'w of currents" moving into the nozzle quiet ly in a general horizontal direction In this way, the layer' of water having the greatest amount of sedimentation will be withdrawn and this has aconstant filtering or 's'eparat ing effect on the whole body of water or other liquid, v V,

A further object of the invention is to construct the outlet in such a; way-that if a 45 lost article, such as a'stocking'or'bathingfcap,

moves toward the'outlet'on the bottom of the tan'k,it will be arrested by the outlet and prevented fro nclogging the outlet.

Further objects of the invention will apear hereinafter;

1927.. seein 191,523;

Theinvention' consists. in the novel parts and; combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to'pro ducean' efficient outlet. 7 v

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the "following specification, while the broad scopeoi the invention i's'pointed out in the a pended claims;

Iri'thedrawingsz i Figural is a plan of an outlet'embodyiiig myinvention. I i

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the bottom wall ofa tank showing the outlet partly in elevation, and with certain parts broken away and? shown in section. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the; upper part ofthe' fitting whichforms a part of the outlet, the lower portion-of the fitting; being' broken away. 1 e j In practicing the invention, I construct the outlet'in such away that thearea oftheinouth ofthe outlet isrelativel'y'large as compared withflthe area through the body or throat of the outlet. Inthis way, currents of liquid are developed flowing inwardly through the orificeor outlet which pass out of the body of liquidwithout causing disturbance or agitation within it. When applying the outlet to use'in swimming pool, I prefer to locate 7 the outlet substantially at the bottom because: at this point the sedimentation is greatest. Bywith'drawingthe water at or-nearthe level of the bottom, most of the sedimentwill be carried ofi' through the outlets.- lhis efiect is augmented by constructing the outlet so as to develop a gentle horizontal flow of the liquid along the bottom into the outlet.

In'order to accomplish this, I construct; the outlet with a relatively large peripheral mouth or inlet which-may be of relatively small dimension measured in a vertical directionl. In practice, I prefer to employ" a plate of relatively large diameter located over that is, superposed on' 'the outlet, and constructthe outlet so that the inlet into it occurs under the edge of this plate.

The cover plate is preferablycircular and iniperforate, and the admission of the liquid to the outlet occurs around the edgej of the (over-"plate; It may cooperate with'the bot= In the drawings I illustrate a preferred embodiment of such an outlet. This outlet includes a pipe-fitting 1 which, for convenience,

may be formed at its lower end into a flanged elbow 2, to which the intake pipe of a pump or a drain may be connected. This fitting may be set in the wall of thetank, for example, the bottom wall 3. The fitting may, if desired, be provided with a conical necks with- .in the bottom 3, which is formed around a throat 5 of the fitting. The upper end of the body 4 adjacent the throat 5may be provided with a plurality of laterally projectinghorizontal lugs 6 formed with vertical webs 7 on their under sides. These lugs and webs are set in the concrete of the wall or bottom, and assist in preventing any movement of the fitting on, its longitudinal axis through the opening 8 in the bottom in which the fitting is set.

The upper end of the fitting hasan exten-' sion which forms a crown 9 (see Figure 3), said crown consisting of a plurality of posts 10 which are cast integral with the fitting and which extend upwardly to support an elevated ring 11 which is also cast integral with the posts. 4 r

On the extension 9 I support astationary cover plate 12, said cover plate being in the form of an imperforate disk, which is preferably of circular form and of relatively large diameter as compared with the diameter of the opening 8. The edge 13.0f' this disk lies relatively near the upper face 14 of the wall or bottom 3 to form an annular opening of fixed width and relatively large area, through which the liquid or water flows in passing into the inlet at a relatively low velocity. Where the duty of the outlet is low, the outlet maysimply comprise this cover plate set over the opening. In practice, however, particularly where the outlet must pass a relatively large quantity of liquid, I mount the cover plate 12 sufficiently far from the face 14 of the bottom to permit the use of one or more intermediate stationary plates such as the plates 15 and 16; The upper plate 15 is held-spaced from the under side of the cover plate 12 by means, oflugs 17 which are cast integrally on the under side of the plate- The plate 15 is cast with similar lugs 18 on itsunder side. When the parts are as.

sembled these lugs are placed in alinement with each other, and the two platesand the cover are drilled through so as to enable them to receive rivets'19, to hold the three plates together. The plates 15 and 16 are preferably of annular form, with relatively large openings 20 through them. These openings 20 are of much larger diameter than the mouth 5 and, furthermore, the opening through the bottom 3 is enlarged when it emerges and is preferably provided with an inclined or beveled face 21 over which the liquid or Water passes toward the fitting. Any suitable means may be provided for attaching the plate. 12 to the crown. 7

If desired, the cover plate 12 may simply rest on the crown 9, but I prefer to provide means for centering it on the crown and for locking it to the crown. In order to accomplish this-I provide the under side of the cover plate with a pair of diametrically opposite lugs 22, and in addition to this I provide two special lugs 23 which operate as interlocking means on thecover to hook under small lugs 24 which project inwardly from the posts 10. The lugs 22 and the lugs 23 cooperate to engage the inner sides of the ring 11 when the cover plate is. set in position.

After it isset in position, a slight rotation on the vertical axis will interlock thehooks 23 with the lugs 24. This will lock the cover plate down on the crown. In addition to this I provide means for preventing backward rotation of the cover plate, which would unlock it. This means consists of a bar 25 (see Figure 1), which is disposed diammetrically under the cover plate, and this bar passes through the passages 26 which are formed through the crown 9 and below thering 11. One of its edges should be disposed against one of the lugs 22 (see Figure 1), so as to be in the path of this lug if it were attempted to rotate the cover plate in a direction to unlock the hooks 23. Ifdedesired, this bar may be secured in place by small screws 27 ,which pass down through the upper plate 15.

readily be adapted to special requirements.

The invention readily adapted itself to use where, the flow into the outlet should be very gentle. In the case of swimming pools, or

tanks the outlet may, if desired, be constructed in vsucha way that a noticeable current or velocity of'fiow would be developed in a horizontal direction on'thebottom, thereby assisting not only in carrying off the liquid located at a level where the sediment is greatest, but also operating to carry olf sediment already actually deposited on thebottom.

4 It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

I claim:

1. In an outlet for a tank, swimming pool or the like, a bottom wall having an opening enlarged where it emerges on the upper face of the bottom, in combination with a substan tially flat cover plate consisting of a stationary imperforate disk of considerably larger transverse dimension than the opening and projecting beyond the edge of the opening, so that a passage of fixed width and relatively large area is formed extending around the edge of the cover formed between the cover and the upper face of the bottom, through which the liquid fiows.

2. In an outlet for. a tank, swimming pool or the like, a bottom wall having an opening, enlarged where it emerges on the upper face of the bottom, in combination with a cover plate consisting of a stationary imperforate disk of considerably larger transverse dimen sion than the opening, so that a passage of fixed width and relatively larger area is formed extending around the edge of the cover between the cover and the upper face of the bottom through which the liquid flows, and an intermediate stationary plate of annular form disposed between the face of the bottom and the said cover plate.

3. In an outlet for a tank, swimming pool or the like, a bottom wall having an opening, in combination with a cover plate consisting of can imperforate disk of considerably larger transverse dimension than the openmg, said plate disposed with its edge close to theface of the bottom whereby a passage of relatively large area is formed extending around the edge of the cover through which the liquid flows at a relatively low velocity, and an intermediate plate disposed between the face of the bottom and the said cover plate, the

said intermediate plate being of greatertransverse dimensions thanthe cover plate, cooperating with the cover plate to form an annular upper passage above the intermediate plate and cooperating with the bottom to form an annular passage below the intermedi- 7 ate plate, said intermediate plate being of greater diameter than the cover plate whereby an object moving along the bottom w1ll be intercepted by the intermediate plate and thereby prevented from clogging the upper passage.

' 4. In an outlet for a tank, swimming pool or the like, a bottom'wall having an opening, in combination with a cover plate consisting of an imperforate disk ofconsiderably larger transverse dimension than the opening, said plate disposed with its edge close to the face of the bottom whereby a passage of relatively large area isformed extending around the edge of the cover through which the liquid flows at a relatively low velocity, and a pair of intermediat platee'disposed one above'the ethei betwen the face of the bottom and the said cover plate,-'the upper cfsaid intermedt plats heing' 'fdispo's'ed slightly below the (sever plate andcooperating with the amete forman upper annular'passage for the liquid, the lower of said intermediate plates lying c 'lo'se to' tl'i'e face of the bottom and cooperat- "with the same 'toi form a lower annular passage for the liquid, the lower of said intermediate platsbing of larger diameter thanthe' upper pietewherebyen object moving aloiig'the bottom toward the outlet with the liquid will be inter'ceptedjhy the lower plate and thereby prevented from clogging theh'pper passage.-'

5. In an outlet for a tank, swimming pool or thelike, a bottomwall having an opening, in combination with a fitting mounted in the opening,- a stationary cover plate detachably fitting haxr'ingv a mouth'at its upper end hav- 7 ice ing an rextens'ienflforniing 1 crown near the sa 1d mouth,a cover-plate supported on said c-rew1 1, e1d crown'and said cover-plate having interlocking meansoperating" to lock the cover-plate tothe' crown a rotary movement, said ccver' plate being of relatively large I diameter with respect to the said frion-th prejeeting verthe edge of the opening in the bottom, lying close to the bottom andcooper'ating withthe bottom to form an annular'outlet opening.

"7-.fIn' an outlet to bemounted in theibot tom of a ta 'nlgpool or the like, the combination of a pipe-fitting having a mouth at its ripper end; and" having a crown near the mouth, including an elevated ring with posts stipportifig the same from the fitting adj acent the mouth,-n'7hei1'aby' lateral ports are formed throdgh t-he crown to admit water to the mend-1 ,51 stationary coverplate' supported on the ring of said crown consisting of animperforate' disk of relatively large diameter with respect to said mouth, and operating when in 7 position} to lie clo 'se'to'the face of the bottom and form a-narrow outlet openinglof fixed width. i r

8. In an outlet to be mounted in the bottom of a tank, pool or the like, the combination of a pipe-fitting having a mouth at its upper end and having a crown above the mouth, includ- I through the crown below the ringrto admit water tothe mouth, a cover plate supported on the said crown consisting of a stationary imperforate disk of relatively large diame: ter with respect to the said mouth, and operating when in position to lie close to the face of the bottom, and a bar passing through the ports below the said ring and secured to the under side of the cover plate to hold the same in fixed position.

9. In an outlet to be mounted in the bottom of a tank, pool or the like, the combinationof a pipe-fitting having a throat at its upper end and having a crown near the throat, including an elevated ring with posts supporting the same from the fitting adjacent the throat, whereby lateral parts are formed through the crown to admit water to the throat, a cover-plate supported on the ring of said .crown consisting of an imperforate disk of relatively large diameter with respect to the said throat, and operating when in position to lie close to the face of the bottom, interlocking means between thering and the under side of the cover plate for locking 7 the cover plate tovthe ring by rotary movement, and a bar extending through the ports below the said ring and operating to prevent rotation of the cover plate in a direction to unlock it from the ring. i

10. In a bottom outlet fora tank, swimming pool or thelike, a pipe fitting having a crown at its upper end with side openings and an elevated centrally "disposed ring, a cover plate resting on the said ring and consisting of a stationary imperforate disk extending laterally from the fitting, and a lower plate of disk form supported from the cover plate and disposed near the under face of the cover. plate whereby an annular passage of fixed width is formed for the water around the edge of the plate between the lower plate and the upper face of the bottom.

11. In an outlet for a tank, swimming pool or the like, the combination of a bottom having an opening enlarged where it emerges on the upper face of the bottom, a pipe fitting extending through the opening having an inlet mouth and a substantially flat cover plate consisting of a stationary imperforate disk supported over said mouth with its edge projecting over the edge of said opening and having its under face disposed in a plane and substantially horizontal so that a passage of fixed width is formed for the liquid extending round the edge of the cover and formed between the plate and the bottom.

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif, this 6 day of May, 1927. CHARLES w. sIRoH. 

